William Thaw II

Air Service, United States Army Lieutenant Colonel William Thaw II ((1893-08-12)12 August 1893 – (1934-04-22)22 April 1934) was an American combat aviator who served in World War I and became a flying ace.

His father bought him a Curtiss Hydro flying boat that he took to France for the Schneider Trophy races.

When war broke out, Thaw gave his airplane to the French and enlisted in the Foreign Legion.

He was transferred to the United States Army Air Service, where he commanded the 103rd Aero Squadron and the 3rd Pursuit Group.

Eventually Whiskey and a female lion purchased by the Escadrille, "Soda", were taken to a Paris Zoo (ref.

William Thaw II and Stephen McGordon photographed while flying under the four bridges of New York's East River, October 1913. Mr. Thaw is seated at the left hand steering wheel at the right of the picture.
William Thaw II, right arm in a cast, member of the Lafayette Escadrille stands in front of a Nieuport XVI